Actor Matt Smith recently joked that his horse riding skills in House of the Dragon Season 3 are like "a fox riding a tricycle," giving a glimpse at how filming mounted scenes is not at all elegant. The quip came with while having a light-hearted chat with his castmates on BBC Radio 1. What one might find to be seasoned and flawless in a movement while watching Daemon ride the beast is seemingly not the best of experiences for Matt Smith himself. 

Now, as Smith suggested, behind Daemon Targaryen's battle scenes lies a lot more than just riding a horse 

Matt Smith said that his horse-riding skills on House of the Dragon Season 3 were akin to a small animal on a three-wheeled cycle. He further confessed that the scenes on horseback are much harder than they appear, no matter how suave they may look to the audience. Smith made the funny observation while discussing the behind-the-scenes, or bloopers, with his co-stars Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, and others during a BBC Radio 1 chat  

“Me on a horse is, you know, sort of always interesting, I suppose. It's like watching a fox ride a tricycle,” he said with a laugh while reflecting on the physically demanding mounted sequences in House of the Dragon Season 3. 

He also shared how tough a role it is. He elaborated on the self-deprecating joke, saying that shooting scenes on horseback takes a lot more than just riding. For context, Smith underwent extensive horse-riding training for House of the Dragon, as mounted sequences are a key part of Daemon Targaryen’s journey in the Game of Thrones prequel. 

Matt Smith Addresses the Inevitable 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Fan Debates by Brushing Off the Pressure to Please Everyone

As the Dance of the Dragons intensifies, Daemon Targaryen's battlefield duties are set to become more demanding than ever 

Matt Smith’s comments arrive as House of the Dragon Season 3 prepares to adapt some of the most ambitious battles from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood to the small screen. The Dance of the Dragons is turning into full-on war, and there is going to be a lot of mounted combat. Meanwhile, as the fight for the Iron Throne continues between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, their rivalry will shape the political landscape in the meantime.

On the other hand, Daemon Targaryen, Aemond Targaryen, and Corlys Velaryon are all expected to be key to the civil war as it moves beyond King’s Landing. The Battle of the Gullet is one of the most anticipated battles of the season, as dragons and naval forces clash on an unprecedented scale. Season 3 will also look to bring in new players from the North and Riverlands, as well as set up the endgame for the series.

As House of the Dragon Season 3 enters its most brutal phase of the Dance of the Dragons, Matt Smith’s funny comments offer us a glimpse of the hard work behind the spectacle. Daemon Targaryen is set to play a major role in the coming war, so there are bound to be plenty of mounted combat scenes. The actor's self-deprecating point of view emphasizes the difficulty of bringing the epic battles of Westeros to the screen. 

'House of the Dragon's' Matt Smith Says He’d Trade "10 Oscars" for an England World Cup Triumph

What do you think of Matt Smith's hilarious description of his horse-riding skills in House of the Dragon? Let us know in the comments below.